Leg and foot lifting appliance for cripples



Nov. 23 1926. 4 v I 1,608,032

J. A. M NABB LEG AND FOOT LTFTING APPLIANCE FOR CRIPPLES Filed Nov. 31925 Patented Nov. 23, 1926.

t TED STAT ES JOHN A. MCNABIB, GI SOMERVILLE, TENNESSEE.

LEG AND FOOT LIFTING APPLIANCE FOR CRIPPLES.

Application filed November 3, 1925.

This invention relates to devices for assisting in supporting the legand foot of paralytics or other cripples and assisting them walking.

The general object of the invention is to provide means for elasticallyraising the legend swinging the leg forward, which is attachable to thebody of the patient, and which will enable patients who have hadparalytic strokes, for instance, and are scarcely able to walk, to walkmuch more perfectly than they otherwise would. do and with a greatreduction in effort.

A further object is to provide a demos of this character which isadapted to be applied either under the garments or exteriorly to thegarments and whlch has elastic neans for exerting an upward pull uponthe leg and causing the forward movement of the leg and foot, thus doingaway w th the dragging of the foot and leg so common in paralytics.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

My invention is illustrated in the accoin panying drawing, whereinFigures 1 and 2 are elevations of my device in applied position upon aman;

Figure 3 is a view of one form of st rrup;

Figure 4 is a perspectlve of the lower end of the strap showing the hookthere-n;

Figure 5 is a detail edge view of the knee strap with the roller throughwhich the member 18 passes;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one form of yoke.

Referring to this drawing, it will be seen that my device comprises ashoulder strap 10 designed to be passed diagonally over one shoulder anddown to the waist. This shoulder strap is preferably attached at twopoints to a belt 11 having a buckle 12, and the shoulder strap isprovided with a buckle 13 whereby the length of the shoulder strap maybe reduced. A chest strap 14 is preferably provided attached to theshoulder strap at its front and rear and adapted to extend beneath thearm. This strap 14 is provided with a buckle 15 and the strap 14 acts tohold the shoulder strap in place. The belt 11 and the shoulder strap maybe made of any suitable material as, for instance, ordinary webbing.

Extending downward from the belt 11, preferably between the points ofattachment Serial No. 66,575.

of the two ends of the shoulder strap 10. is a tab 16, and connected tothis tab 16 by a buckle :17 or other suitable means is a leg member 18which may be made of fill rubber or any other elastic material orelement. This elastic element 18 has a length approximately that of theleg, and, with the tab 16, extends downward from the waistto the ankleand thence to the toe of the foot. A knee band 19 maybe applied to theelastic element 18 at a point just above or below the knee and this kneeband is' held together preferably by a buckle 20. The foot lift strap 18carries a roller 21 engaged with the ankleand the extremity ot' theelastic element 18 is provided with a hook 22 to engage a toe stirrup23. The roller 21 mounted'in a yoke 24L which carries a buckle throughwhich the ankle the elastic member 18 and thus when the foot is about toswing forward again the elastic member 18 gives the foot a better swingand at the same time assists in holding up the foot so that the footwill swing forward. It will thus be seen that this will prevent anydragging of the foot or leg. It will be seen that the roller 21 holdsthe lower end of the strap 18 close to the ankle and at the same timeallows free movement of the strap 18 past this roller and allows freestretching of the strap 18.

While I have illustrated a simple stirrup to hook over the toe of theshoe, I do not wishto be limited to this as other forms of thesestirrups or toe engaging members might be used. Thus the toe engagingmember in the form of an aluminum cap might be used and I do not wish tobe limited to any particular form for the toe engaging member. Themember 18 should beelastic. It might be rubber webbing, rubber innertubing, or any elastic or coiled metal spring. Other parts of thedevice, however, might be made of different materials without in any waydeparting from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appendedclaims. Thus, for instance, while I have illustrated the roller 21 asbeing mounted in a yoke en-- gaging a buckle 25, I do not wish to belimited to this as such a device as this would only be used where lowshoes or button shoes are used. vVhere high shoes are used, I preferablyprovide the device shown in Figure 6, the roller being mounted upon ayoke 27, the yoke being formed of resilient wire, the two ends of thewire being extendeo toward each other, then approximately parallel toeach other, and then bent outward and toward the yoke to form tworesilient hooks 28 which are adapted to enga e in the eyelets of theshoe at the bend or the foot. The yokes shown in Figures 5 and 6 areboth for the purpose of keeping the leg strap 18 from bulging out of thetrousers under which the device is worn.

The appliance is, of course, to be worn over the underclothes and underthe outer clothes so that there is nothing seen of the appliance itselfexcept that portion of the strap 18 which extends down the foot. It willbe seen the device is very light and that it is practically entirelyconcealed.

I claim 1. A foot and leg lifting device for cripples including anelastic member adapted to extend downward and over the front of the legfrom the waist to a point beyond the ankle, means at the lower end ofthe elastic member whereby it may be connected to the toes of the foot,means for holding said elastic member in engagement with the front ofthe leg at the ankle joint thereof, means for holding the elastic memberto the front of the leg at the knee joint thereof, and torso engagingmeans with which the upper end of the elastic is connected.

2. A foot and leg lifting device for crip' ples including an elasticelement adapted to be disposed down the leg and having means at itslower end whereby it may be engaged with the foot, body engaging meanswith which the upper end of said element is connected, and an ankleengaging member having a roller through which the elastic member passesand upon which the elastic member bears to per nit free movement of theelastic member past said roller.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

JOHN A. MQNABB,

